Thecophora

Thecophora are small greyish Conopid
flies, that dwell in the vegetation. They are not often observed in the
field. Most flies are spotted in open grasslands in forested
environments, while visiting flowers. Flower visits include yellow
composites as Crepis biennis.

Recognition

Thecophora are greyish in general appearance. They
resemble Zodion,
but Zodion has but a single bent in the snout. Stuke (2006) sheds
light on the former T. pusilla, showing that multiple species were
hidden. T. cinerascens, T. bimaculata and T. jakutica appear
in the Netherlands.

7.b. Theca in hind view: bristle field
broad, more than
half the theca length at the median part, with 5 rows of bristles;
head: ocellar triangle yellow or orange-brown, without an obviously
defined black area at rear. Eastern palaearctic. ->
Thecophora apivora Zimina

8.b. Theca from behind: bristle field
reaches only halfway the theca at the side;
lower part of frons pale, upper part and ocellar triangle uniformly
black; wing base: radius only yellowed until just before the branching
of veins R1 and R2+3, then black beyond; abdomen: tergite 6 usually not
or only negligibly dusted medially. Southern and central
Europe -> Thecophora cinerascens
(Meigen)(= Thecophora pusilla)

14.b. 2nd
antennal segment as long as or shorter than the 3rd segment; femur 3
often only yellowish on its basal quarter. 4-5 mm. -> Thecophora
cinerascens (Meigen) (=Th. pusilla) and Thecophora
bimaculata,
two further species
in the eastern palaearctic.